No matter how happy we are with our lives, most of us can think of at least one thing that we wish we could have done differently.
Even if that just means starting to do the same things a little bit sooner.
Feeling reflective, Redditor AbortiveBases1 asked:
"What's something you wish you started doing sooner?"
Letting People Go
"Learning that just because someone is your friend for a long time doesn't mean you have to deal with their toxicity or narcissistic behavior."
"You can leave those friendships. It sucks at first but it's worse staying friends with people like that."
- SadStone2265
Getting Divorced
"My mom and dad got divorced in 2022 when my siblings and I were all between the ages of 27 and 31."
"We couldn't be happier. It could (and should) have happened way earlier, like 10 to 15 years earlier. Our childhood definitely suffered for it."
"I have no complaints about my mom, she's the best lady ever, but things would've been a lot more pleasant at home if they divorced then."
- doomed_danny
Creative Outlet
"Making things."
"I 3D print, do woodwork, and do home renovations. It’s made me more self-confident (I now usually believe I can do anything), more creative, and changed the way my brain works."
"I can’t imagine what kind of person I’d be today if I had been doing this all throughout my 20s."
- AirZurk
Sugar Intake
"Weaning myself off sugar."
- CouldMurderACarvery
The Perfect Partner
"My wife. She's the granddaughter of a friend of my aunt, so I could have met her a lot sooner, but we only met when I was 29."
"The way we clicked together and got lost in conversation with each other... I only wish it had started sooner."
- netheroth
"You can't guarantee that you would have clicked earlier."
"It was the same with my wife, I had met a bunch of her close friends over the years through friends and vice versa. There are pictures of us at the same events when we were 17, 18, and 20, but we just never met. Ships passing in the night."
"We met finally at 29 and realized we had all the things in common and clicked immediately and are happily married with a beautiful two-year-old."
"Looking back, had we met at 17, I don't think we would have gotten together. We both had a lot of growing to do before we were right for each other."
- sirhcdobo
Ditch the Hustle
"Focusing on friends instead of the grind."
"I worked two jobs through the 2010s. As a freelance digital artist at night, I made a lot of 'friends' through conventions, online chat groups, and social media."
"However, the pandemic hit, and the conventions closed. Freelance business dried up. Our clients disappeared. With my evenings more open, I focused more intently on ascending in my day job, and now only have one or two contacts left from my digital art years."
"They're all I have left. And we don't even talk that much."
"I'm working on rebuilding a friends circle, trying to reconnect with everyone who still remembers me, lives close enough, and didn't die years ago unbeknownst."
"It's an awkward process, trying to again find similar interests now that everyone has a wife, kids, and home to take care of, while I seem to have dropped out of a time portal from 2003."
- QuarantineTitans
Understanding Mental Health
"My wife."
"But seriously, endorphins."
"And understanding the importance of endorphins on mental health."
"Even a small amount of physical activity has a major improvement on my mental health, energy, and moods."
- ksozay
Work History
"I wish I'd started working sooner."
"My mom sent me money for food and essentials while I was in college because she said a job would just distract me from getting good grades. Unfortunately, she simply forgot to send the money, a lot."
- stellathewizard
Home Yoga Sessions
"At-home yoga. It's free AND my back doesn't hurt anymore!"
- mekkimegz
Prioritizing Sleep
"Enforcing my own bedtime. My mood is 1,000% better on days when I get enough sleep."
- lights_camera_pizza
The Value of Therapy
"Therapy. Seriously, if you are considering seeing a therapist, then just do it."
- Avjycjc8ttghu478
Exercise Routine
"Two-a-day workouts. Once you figure out intensity pacing and treating one as a 'light' workout, it’s not hard."
"Getting up at 5:30 most days isn’t awesome, but I get 14, 45-min hits of exercise almost every week, and I’ve never had as much energy, positivity, and overall health. Plus, weight management-wise, I can eat d**n near anything I want to. I had a 'mostly' clean diet before, so I wasn’t going bonkers. But it makes eating pretty enjoyable."
- superstarrrr99
Better Self-Talk
"Replacing self-depreciative jokes with sarcastic compliments on myself."
"For example, instead of saying, 'My hair looks like something died in it,' say, 'I was born a queen. Look how great I look on a bad hair day too!'"
"Fake it till you make it kinda works. Eventually, I'm not feeling as insecure about myself as I used to."
- saagarammm
Sentimental Photos
"Taking pictures with my husband and kids. I hate the way I look in pictures so usually, I’m the one behind the camera. It wasn’t until last year that I read a post here on Reddit that made me change my way of thinking."
"It said something along the lines of, kids don't see wrinkles, extra fat, or bad hair. You know, all the things we nitpick about ourselves. They just see Mom."
- Dazzling-Nature-6380
The Next Phase
"Retirement. Did it at 68 but was enjoying running my own publishing business, so I stayed on."
"Now in retirement, I’m having a blast doing so many things I never previously had time for that I wish I’d taken the plunge at 60, or earlier. (Let that be a lesson to all you young ‘uns out there.)"
- SkepticalSenior9133
While it's so easy to regret things in our lives, sometimes it's important to think about the things we're doing right.
Sometimes we'll be so proud of what we're doing, we'll only regret not getting a jump on it sooner.
It's so easy for us to get caught up in the negative things in our day-to-day lives, whether it's a bad day at work or an ended relationship, but it's important to remember what else we have going for it.
Sometimes the best thing to do is to listen to the people we look up to, and let their words help us move through the tough time.
Redditor Miller1xo asked:
"What's the best advice you've ever received?"
It's Not That Important
"No one cares."
"That's actually the advice."
"The vast majority of people are more concerned about going about their own days and doing their own things."
"I kept being too socially conscious of myself around others, believing that every move I was making was being monitored and judged all the time."
"But the reality was that, just like me, everyone around me was just focused on themselves and what they were doing and not at all on others."
"And if anyone did anything out of the ordinary or 'embarrassing,' we all forgot about it the next day."
"So once I realized this, my social anxiety essentially disappeared after a month and I was far more comfortable in my own skin."
- fortifier22
The Bad Comes with the Good
"Life sucks, get a helmet."
"And life is like a s**t sandwich, every now and again you gotta take a bite. But the more bread you have, the less s**t you taste."
- vNerdNeck
The Great Aunt Has Spoken
"Three rules from a great aunt:"
"Go to the restroom while you have a chance."
"If there's a seat available, sit down."
"If someone offers you a breath mint, take it."
- realitygroupie
Just Ask
"If you ask, they might say yes. They might also say no, but if you don't ask, it's always a no. So ask."
- frid
Nothing Can Change if Nothing Ever Changes
"Not making a decision IS making a decision."
"As someone who struggles with indecisiveness, this has been an important one. It's easy to get wrapped up in analyzing options, especially what could go wrong. Sometimes the decision paralysis is worse than the consequences of a suboptimal choice."
- FatherJohnFahey
Take Care of Your Body
"Look after your back. You will be sorry in later years if you don't, and it's much easier to look after it now than try to fix it later."
- LucyVialli
Progress, Not Perfection
"Doing something imperfectly is better than not doing it at all."
- T3canolis
Perfection is an Obstacle
"There's a common phrase, 'Don't let perfect be the enemy of good.'"
"I like to adapt it: 'Don't let perfect be the enemy of done.'"
- angry_guacamole
Let It Go
"The best advice I ever saw was from Bo Burnham on a talk show. Conan O'Brien asked the standard question: 'What advice would you have for other young people who want to pursue their dreams like you?'"
"He responded: 'Well, my advice for you would be to take a deep breath...and give up. I got to where I am today purely because of luck. All these celebs today like Taylor Swift telling you to 'be yourself and follow your dreams,' it's like saying 'liquidize your assets, buy Powerball tickets! get rich! it works!' It doesn't work.'"
"'...Ten years ago I was just a dumb, skinny white kid who didn't know what he was doing. Now the only thing that's changed is I'm famous.'"
"Just do whatever you want, and if you get lucky and hit it rich then that's great. But it probably won't happen."
- VisconitiKing
Put Yourself Out There
"Hard work alone won't do sh*t for you. Chance encounters, a seemingly small conversation, and Cosmic timing have a much bigger impact on your success than hard work alone."
"In my case, there was a random LinkedIn message from a recruiter and a gut feeling I should respond to it. That led me to have a successful job that values work-life balance and pays way more than my previous company."
"Networking is an example of this. If you happened to know a guy who knows a guy, you can land pretty sweet jobs over someone who quietly works overtime all day every day."
"The family you are born into can also play into it. Apologies to Taylor swift fans, but there isn't anything special about her. If she was an average person, she would not have had the same level of success. Her family's connection to the record industry played a huge part in her initial success."
- ansteve1
Dump Her Back
"My first love left me for another guy. I was visibly depressed, and my Granddad asked, 'What's wrong with you?' I told him. He responded, 'Dump her back.'"
"I was bewildered. What the f**k does that mean?"
"Then, a few months later, my ex-girlfriend got dumped by the new guy and pleaded with me to take her back. It got to the point of her stalking me."
"I stood firm and dumped her back."
- frederick_ungman
Perspective is Everything
"While driving one day, I was p**sed that someone cut me off when I had the right of way."
"My Great Grandfather told me, 'There's a lot of dead people who had the right of way, too.'"
"I never forgot that advice. It may not be the best advice ever but it always stuck with me."
- SeriousBlak
Practice Gratitude
"A hundred dollars isn’t a lot to have, but it’s a lot to need."
- bang0_slank
Parenting Hacks
"If you have little kids, triple sheet their beds, alternating with full-size waterproof pads. So: pad, sheet, pad, sheet, pad, sheet."
"In the middle of the night when you have work in the morning and they wet the bed or throw up or get a nosebleed, pull up one layer, toss it into the laundry, and put the kid right back to sleep."
"Also, if anyone in your house isn't feeling well, give your kid a bucket or something next to their bed in case they wake up feeling sick. No one likes to clean up a trail of vomit from the kid's room to the parent's room or bathroom in the middle of the night."
- goddess_eris
Surround Yourself with People Who Support You
"When no one's got your back... move your f**king back."
- IJacboy
Each of these concepts are great ways to get more out of life, but the big ticket item here is perspective.
So often, we exaggerate things, whether how embarrassing a mistake was or how hard it will be to complete that task or how bad we think we have it, but if we compare that to someone else's circumstances, or how small this moment is in the grand scheme of things, it suddenly becomes easier to be more grateful and take more from life.
Sometimes the best advice is silence.
I think we're far enough along now in the self help stage of life where everyone can just shut up.
Often times... life just sucks.
I know that is hard to hear, well it's certainly depressing, but it's imperative to embrace.
And some of these wise catchphrases need a break.
RedditorThrilledStoic wanted to share the sage wisdom that is on everyone's last nerve. They asked:
"What life advice can just f**k off?"
"Money doesn't buy happiness."
The HELL it doesn't! Just my experience.
So Much Time
"Pretty much anything about what age you have to be to like buy a house, have kids, get married, have a career or anything like that. Seriously every person lives a different life than everyone else. Live your life the way that makes you happy. If you want. Up to you."
Ginger-Beefcake
Head Talk
"Telling people 'It's all in your head.'"
my_gender_is_a_glock
"Mental illness is in the head, that's why it's so hard for people to recognize it and empathy with it. If someone is paralyzed you can see it, if someone is suffering from depression it is invisible. This sentence should be 'people can suffer from things you can't always see or understand so be kind to them.'"
talknoller
"cleans up"
"'Live every day as if it's your last.' No. That encourages people to keep up all kinds of terrible habits cause YOLO."
ErisianMoon
"There is a TV/movie show about how a guy with terminal cancer goes around and 'cleans up" society and corrupted politicians. Can't remember the name of it, but hell it's exactly what I'd do if I knew I had a time limit."
defensive_username
Fight
nick splat bully GIF by Hey ArnoldGiphy“Ignore the bullying and it will go away,' like wtf is that logic, if you are actively letting bullying happen to you it will only get worse (in my experience)."
kianstartedskating
Yeah, the bullies don't leave until you send them packing. Just FYI.
Higher to?
Animation Loop GIF by CLGiphy“Never settle. Reach for the stars.”
"Sometimes knowing your limits is a good thing. Otherwise you may refuse something good because you’re trying to get something that’ll never be possible."
macaronsforeveryone
Stronger
“'What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.' Nope— not true. Some things leave you permanently changed, and not always for the better. Yes, it is possible (and often times a good thing!) to try and find silver-linings regarding crummy situations, but to completely ignore how something may hurt someone is absolutely foolish."
itsgoodpain
"My parents used to tell me this when I had a conflict with one of our class' teachers. 'You'll get better at dealing with stubborn cruel people,' they said. Well crap, they were wrong. In reality, the case turned out to not be 'what doesn't kill you makes you stronger' but more like "what doesn't kill you leaves you crippled, then mutates and tries again" instead."
Lx_Kill3rK1ng_xJ
Happily Ever After
"You're not married because you're too picky. So I'm supposed to settle just so I can be married? You better believe I'm going to be picky when it comes to the person I'm going to interconnect everything with for the rest of my life. In fact, I know more married people that are in unhappy marriages because they weren't picky enough. Better to be single than with the wrong person."
CamaroNoir
Just Smile
"'Don't be depressed, there are other people doing worse than you.' Thanks, I know that and try to help them sometimes.But that won't help my depression leave just because i compare myself to other people having a worse life than me."
Scarmaster21
"I just saw a suggested response on another sub. If someone says, 'Don’t be depressed, there are people worse off than you,' you can reply with, 'Don’t be happy, there are people much better off than you.”
heiberdee2
It's all Crap
Season 9 Nbc GIF by The OfficeGiphy"That things will get better with time. Really. No. Sometimes crap don't get better with time. If people have nothing productive to say don't say anything."
Aggressive_Smile_944
overworking is rampant...
"Work faster, you need to manage your time better. Nooo, they need to hire a second person. One person can only do so much."
ItsmeMr_E
"I often doubted myself when I noticed that I was the only one staying late in the office. One of my colleagues even goes home early. But when I ask around, turns out that a few other colleagues work in the evening and on weekends at home too. So it’s not just me lol. The issue of overworking is rampant in many industries."
pisceanm00n
a theory...
"Anything involving the idea of 'soul mates' can really set you up for a big fall."
FishingOk3283
"Me and my friends have a theory. Sometimes you just come across people in your life that you have some sort of indescribable connection with. This is our definition of soul mates. We call them soul friends, and there no limit of how many you can come across."
KingCollapperdapper
No person is perfect...
"Some day you'll find the perfect person. No, relationships are work. No person is perfect. It's finding someone that you can learn and grow with that you in fact looking for."
marsumane
"Also, and I'm sorry, but many people die without having a special one. A lot of people do not find love. The idea that it will happen at some point is not realistic for many. Just try to live a happy and fulfilled life. If somebody comes along, great, if they don't, remember that life is way too short. Do not wait to do things when you have somebody, because they might not appear."
StrawberryinPizza
How is this advice?'
Katy Perry Reaction GIF by Top TalentGiphy"'But they're family!' I didn't know being related stopped people from being AHs."
"On the flip side, if we're family, why are you treating me like shit in the first place? 'How is this advice?' Because I'm sure we've all been told at one point or another to forgive/apologize to an abusive family member, simply because we're related, as if that changes anything. Hope that clears it up."
KaiJonez
HALT!
"'Never go to bed angry.' When you're tired and cranky, that's not the best time to solve your problems. Get some sleep, clear your head, and talk about it in the morning... preferably after breakfast, so you're not hangry."
Forsaken-Economy-416
"HALT reacting to an issue until you’re not Hungry, Angry, Lonely, or Tired. It’s good freaking advice. Eat. Chill yourself out. Talk to a friend. Sleep. Then deal."
randijeanw
Time will Tell...
"It gets easier with age."
_UnknownAccount_
"61 here, fwiw. Depends entirely on what 'it' is. Interacting with people instead of being paralyzed with embarrassment/anxiety/self-consciousness? Yes. Having your heart broken? No. Juggling the demands of your life? ehhh... at best I'd say one gets used to it. And damn, take care of your body when you're younger - the knees and liver are only so forgiving."
Strange-Broccoli-393
WRONG!
Arrested Development Do Not Want GIFGiphy"'The customer is always right.' I don't work retail or anything, but whenever I go shopping, I see a lot of customers verbally abusing store associates. It's terrible."
yamsnavas2
"I used to work in customer service and I was specifically told during my training 'The customer is never right. You are right. You know the law and the company policy, the customer knows neither of those things no matter what they say.'"
TheKelseyOfKells
No Guarantees...
"That going to college will guarantee you a high paying job.' I heard that shit all my childhood and it just absolutely is not always true. Trade school degrees that are way cheaper can pay more and give you a better chance at a job. Wish someone would have told me this 15 years ago."
Minion0827
Not Always...
"Always forgive' Some acts are unforgivable. Should you work through the horrible things that were done to you so that you can heal and aren't impacted negatively on a daily basis? Yes. Does that require forgiveness? No. 'Turn the other cheek' and 'Be the bigger person' are also tidbits of life advice that tend to work out mostly in the favor of the people who always take the low road. Stand up for yourself."
rikki_million
Yes, things can get better. But not always. You still have to survive. Just a heads up.
Want to "know" more?
Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.
Never miss another big, odd, funny or heartbreaking moment again.
Life goes by in an instant. I was told that constantly as I wasted every second of my youth.
Ok, maybe I'm being a tad dramatic, but I wish I had listened to wisdom from my elders more.
Life does fly by, and everyone should be prepared for it.
One of the ways to get the most out of the best years, is to live it up with smarts.
If only there was a handbook to be given out in our teenage years.
There's an idea! *note to self...*
Redditorjcab0219 asked:
"Redditors age 35+, what’s the best piece of life advice you can give to someone in their 20’s?"
Smile and dance more.
And don't get tangled up in unrequited love.
Hard truth...
"HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU!!!"
Listen to your body...
"Wear your sunscreen! Or more broadly, take care of you. Your skin, your teeth, your joints, your sexual health, etc. Invest in yourself for the long haul." ~ Wildflower_Daydream
"Find some exercise that you enjoy doing. And don't forget about stretching! I cannot stress this enough." ~ cellar9
"Stretch before and after exercise/sports. Listen to your body - pushing through pain in your 20s haunts you in your 30s. Exercise regularly, try to keep your weight within a healthy range. Shoes with arch & ankle support!" ~ Wildflower_Daydream
Fund Issues
"Pay extra money for quality items that separate you from the ground like shoes, mattresses (including sheets, pillows, blankets) tires, couches, lounge chairs, etc). Also, protect your hearing because you can’t ever get it back." ~ seedemployee
"Start planning for retirement as soon as possible. The later you wait to start, the longer you will have to work." ~ seedcolobus
Be Smart
"Make a savings account of some kind RIGHT NOW, don't take anything out of it, only add to it. If you're gonna have the kind of sex that can result in pregnancy, be diligent about your birth control. Condoms, the pill, whatever - pulling out isn't good enough. Don't accidentally get pregnant or accidentally get someone pregnant."
"When drinking, learn your limits with people you trust and then don't make a habit of going past them. Don't leave your drink unattended in public places. Remember that you don't have to drink if you don't want to, and not wanting to is a good enough reason to avoid booze." ~ I_DRINK_ANARCHY
Teeth. The teeth!!
And our bodies.
They give out fast, if we let them.
So don't let them!
So Much to Learn
"Skip tobacco completely. Invest a small amount weekly or monthly with out fail. You have many investment opportunities with little or no road blocks than ever before. Never stop learning. Make friends and network as much as possible but cut your losses on toxic people. Learn to play an instrument. Take care of your body and teeth. Too many pieces to pick just one." ~ Chadchungus_Cajones
Spend a Little...
"Never go cheap on items that separate you from the ground. Especially mattresses. Remember that you sleep about 1/3 of your life. If you become say 90 you will have slept for 30 years!!! Imagine that on a crappy mattress." ~ Muisvleer
GiphyPreparations...
"Be prepared for eventualities. Have some funds stashed away at home that no one but you knows about. When you need it, banks might not be open, atms, etc. Bad weather can knock all that out. Same with food/water. Stop watching/reading the mainstream news. You’ll feel better mentally. Just... stop. This planet’s been through stuff 1000x worse than the latest scarce-story."
"It’s never too late to get into better physical shape. Ever. It does you good in all sorts of ways. Be wary of the latest trends. Don’t be a weathervane that blows in the wind. Learn as much as you can about stuff you’re interested in. This may well lead to a new/much better job or career." ~ SqueakyTheCat
Educate Yourself
"Don’t go to college unless you are going for law, medicine, teaching, engineering, etc something lucrative and that your loans can be written off or you can pay them off in under 5 years." ~ lexiezazzles
GiphyWalk Away
"You don’t deserve to be treated like crap by the people who are supposed to love you, and it’s okay to walk away from a toxic situation that is affecting your own quality of life." ~ BlackCaaaaat
"Learned this one the hard way. Sometimes walking away is the best thing for your health, even if the person is family." ~ jcab0219
Critical Thinking
"Think about children carefully. Children with special needs can happen to anyone, and parenting is forever. Try not to chase happiness. As lame as it may seem, happiness isn’t about having what you want, but wanting what you have. Be grateful for what you have." ~ shaylahbaylaboo
Don't be Tardy
"It's never too late, but if you spend your life telling yourself it's too late then it eventually will be." ~ Quzzyz
GiphyThat is a ton of great advice.
So let's start adhering to it.
What could it hurt?
Want to "know" more?
Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.
Never miss another big, odd, funny or heartbreaking moment again.
Epiphanies are tough to come by. Sometimes we need a wiser person to just come right out with it and slap us in the face with some straight truth about life and the world.
Therapists, great uncles, teachers, television show characters, and even parents all may be the one spewing the wisdom.
Unfortunately, hearing the advice is usually only 25% of the battle. Actually listening to the message and incorporating that wisdom into the way you lead your life is really where the rubber meets the road.
Take note of some Redditors dropping some life knowledge that they heard once upon a time. Maybe one of these will save you some trouble.
thicluna asked, "What's the best piece of life advice you've ever heard?"
Be Here Now
"Don't borrow fear from the future." -- Mrstpaul
"I don't borrow it, I copy&paste it, it's still gonna be there in the future." -- mikrodizels
"And quit hoping for a better past!" -- Snoo11600
Up to You
"Being alone isn't the same as being lonely" -- Gosenco
"absolutely. solitude is an important part of life" -- ashritaebc
"It works the other way around too. Just because I'm around people all the time that doesn't mean I don't feel lonely." -- RMPY96
We're Not in a Vacuum
"'True character can be observed by what someone does when they think no one is watching.'"
"It made me a more honest person, and it definitely helped me become more comfortable just being me."
Each Has It's Place
"Find 3 hobbies. One that makes you money, one that keeps your mind sharp/creative, and one that keeps your body in shape." -- ConsultantForLife
"What if your hobby does all 3?" -- EasternCoffeeCove
"Then you still need two sucky hobbies to make the full set" -- potentialprimary
Confrontation Has Its Place
"Stand up for yourself!! Even if it may seem socially rude to do. If you aren't comfortable, make it known."
"You don't have to intentionally be rude or obnoxious about it, but seriously. Don't let yourself be walked over."
"Something I have had to learn and get comfortable with. It has greatly improved my experiences with people."
-- -keewee_
A Pragmatic Kind of Wisdom
"Always pay for good quality when it comes to anything that's getting between you and the ground. Shoes, tires, mattresses, don't skimp and get the cheap options for things like that." -- Al_Rascala
"Yep, buy once, cry once." -- SnooHabits8041
Keep Your Head Down
"Do not shy away from pain or discomfort when trying to improve your life. Self-improvement is supposed to hurt, for thou art both the sculptor, and the stone." -- Beovulfr
"Can confirm, only by facing the pain I experienced and changing my perspective of what this means for me was I able to grow. And it was rapid growth." -- Healthem
Logic Doesn't Always Prevail
"'It's possible to commit no mistakes and still lose. That is not weakness. That is life.' —Captain Jean-Luc Picard" -- -eDgAR-
"I didn't even realize it was a Star Trek quote. I thought I made it up myself." -- With_Trees
Luck, But in Your Hands
"Luck is when preparedness meets opportunity" -- mATT55551
"Now this is an exhilarating line, thank you for sharing, my good man" -- Healthem
An Honor?
"'We are the people our parents warned us about'...Spoken by a heavily intoxicated person at a rave in the early 2000's. It took years for me to appreciate the unintended significance of this gem." -- strobie01
"Jimmy Buffett wrote an entire song with this line in the 80s. Give it a listen." -- Firstamongmonkeys
Want to "know" more? Never miss another big, odd, funny, or heartbreaking moment again. Sign up for the Knowable newsletter here.